Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. This is disgraceful legislation which is flawed and undemocratic. It is appalling that this Bill has been brought before the House. It should be thrown out immediately because of its lack of respect for citizens.

Three-seat constituencies are a disaster for democracy and for inclusive politics. Why are all the five-seat constituencies on the south side of Dublin whereas the north side of Dublin has three-seat constituencies? This is disgraceful and flawed legislation which should be challenged in the House, as I am doing, and also on the streets and in the communities by every political representative in this House. It lacks a provision for democracy.

I ask the House to consider what was done to my constituency, Dublin North-Central, and to its citizens. A total of 5,280 electors were taken from my constituency and shoved into Dublin North-East. Then they went to Dublin North-West and took 5,020 voters from the Beaumont-Whitehall area and put them into the constituency of the Minister of State, Deputy Noel Ahern. It is an appalling act to steal votes from Edenmore, Raheny and Beaumont-Whitehall in Dublin North-Central.

One must consider the background to this Bill. Five members were directly involved in the commission established under the 1997 Act. The Government of the day gave the commission's terms of reference and it was appointed by the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Cullen. We are all aware of the Minister's record in this House and his disgraceful behaviour on the electronic voting issue. It is appalling that such a Minister, against whom many other complaints have been made, has had such an important role in what is a vital element of the democratic process.

It is disgraceful that the commission had only ten meetings to deliberate on such a momentous issue for the State. Votes were reassigned to Ministers' constituencies to secure their influence in areas in which they and their families have exercised control for generations. I refer particularly to Whitehall and Drumcondra in this regard. If the commission was serious about democracy and social inclusion, it would have recognised the reality of population expansion by increasing the number of Deputies from 166 to 168. The political parties and this Government are once again hammering poor people, especially in my constituency.

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